Flood-fence



lproved flood-gate.

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIsABErH s. GAERETT, or DowNEYvILLE, INDIANA.

FLOOD-FENCE.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,003, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed July 12, 1883.

make anduse Y the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of .my im- Fig. 2 is a similar view from t-he opposite side, and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to improvements in so-called flood-gates or water-fences;77 and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of the same, as ,hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents `the panel of my improved flood-gate, which may consist of horizontal boards or rails, as in the drawings, or it maybe composed of upright pickets, if desired. B B are anchors of stone or other suitable material, in the top of which staples b b are "secured. A panel, A, is fastened to the two anchors by means of hinges formed by two loops of heavy wire, e e, attached to the lower 4board or rail of the panel,` one near .each

end, and passing through the staples b-b. The spring C, which serves to keep'the panel in a vertical position, is formed of a slender steel rod, fastened at one end to the center of the upper board or rail of the panel, passing down below the bottom ofthe panel, where it is bent at right angles and turned to form a circular loop, F, the free end of the rod being secured in an anchor, D, of stone or other suitable material, placed between the two anchors B B, at an equal distancefrom each. l

The flood-gate is anchored in the stream in the position shown in Fig. 1, the arrow indicating the direction of the current. During floods the pressure ofthewater will overcome the resistance of the spring, and gradually force the gate down until it occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

(No model.)

As the ilood subsides and the pressure of the water gradually decreases, the spring (which is of sufficient strength to hold the panel in a vertical position, or approximately so) will gradually raise the panel until it resumes its normal position. The end of the loop farthest from the panel is fastened to a staple, e', secured in a suitable anchor, E, as shown in the drawings. This device serves to still further strengthen the panel against any un usual pressure, as of cattle or other stock,

which might swim against that side of the panel to which the spring C is affixed. I

From the foregoing description of my in,` vention, taken in connection with the draw# ings hereto attached, the operation of my in1- proved ilood-gate will readily be understood. It will be seen that my improved gate is exceedingly simple in construction, and that it is devoid of all complicated parts, which, especially in a gate used for this purpose, are apt to become rusted and get out of order, thus rendering such gates worthless. My improved gate, however, having all its parts simple in construction,is not apt to get Vout of order, and will last much longer than gates not so constructed. `I am aware that ilood-fences have been heretofore constructed provided with a spring for holding the gate in its vertical position,which is adapted to yield to any unusual pressure of the water, and restore the gate to its normal position when such unusual pressure has been removed and I do not therefore claim such construction, broadly; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

In a iioodgate of the described construction, the combination of the hinged panel A, anchors B B and D, spring C, bent to form the loop F, and anchor E, having staple e', forhold ing the loop Fin position, constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISABETH S. GARRETT.

lVituesses: i

i MARY A. W. SconEY, g MARY L. ScoBEY.

IOC 

